Machine for deforming billets



7 1954 H. M. WILSON 2,686,442

MACHINE FOR DEFORMING BILLETS Filed Aug. 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Haas M VV/L $0/V C \wm Aug. 17, 1954 H. M. WILSON 2,686,442

MACHINE FOR DEFORMING BILLETS Filed Aug. 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Hoax M Mao/v clam . ATTOR/VE Y H. M. WILSON Aug. 17, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 22, 1950 1954 H. M. WILSON 2,686,442

' MACHINE FOUR DEFORMING BILLETS Filed Aug. 22, 1950 4 sheets-sheet 4 4 VENTOR. HUGH VV/L so/v CL. (97M Patented Aug. 17, 1954 wHugh Moi-ton Wilson,

Glasgow, Scotland, assignor it The. International Nickel CompanyIIncQNew "-"Y'orkfNifY a corporation of Delaware sApplica't-ion August 22, 1950; SeriabNo; 180350 .Claims priority, application Great" Britain JAugust 25, 1949 (CEBU-23) :74 Claims. 1

- The present invention're-la-testothe art of metal working, ancl,--more -"particularly, -to a machine for the'-roll=die"formation of shapesfrom-cylin- 'drical billets, such "as -durnbbell-contoured shapes as commonly used in" the manufactureof turbine blades and. other products.

-Heretofore; in the" production of-turbine blades it has been the-common practicepas'an initial or intermediate step-in -thepro-cess, to"convertbillets "of cylindrical form into -dumbbell-*- shapes by expensive 'swaging" operations. Each" ofthe dumbbell blanks 'so provided-is employed for the production of one or two'turbine' blades bysubsequent-operationssuchas-"by die-pressing.

Althoughattempts-have been madam-facilitate "the production of durhbblP-or other deformed "shapes from billets'and to"simplify the-operational procedure as heretofore required, none of the? prior attempts, as "far as I' am aware was entirely successful when carried into practice commercially on an industrial-"scale.

It has now been discovere'd that'-*theproduc- "tion of dumbbell and like inter1nediate"0r*'-deforrned shapes from cylindrical billets-may with "greater-facilityandwith"economic advantage be accomplished by theemployment of an improved "machine operating with"'the*instrun'rentalny "of "multiplerolldies toefiiectthe requireddeformation' of the biilet. *The improvedmachine "is of :spe'ciardesi'gn' andstrirctur'al arrangement providing for increased-facility in thefee'ding'or -insertingt of 'the'billets td'the' machine with resulting operating economy and furthery'inci'dentto "the rolledie "dformingof' the =billet, producesn product of an improvedmoll-finished surface.

It is'an object ofthe present'rinvention topro- 'duce an improved machine "for the roll-die"deformation of cylindric'afbill'etsof special structural design and arrangement adapted .to materially facilitatefthe xdeforming operation.

Another object: of "the inventiont'is .to produce a multiple roll die "deforming machine forbillets having structural provision for -introduction of the" billets into working or .'def.orming position .in' the "direction axially "of the roll-flies.

' The invention'*a'lso'" contemplates" providing a multiple'moll-iiie deforming "mechanism 'for" billets having an improvd structuralarrangement providing for introduction. of the billetsinto po- 'sition to beactedpn by"the-rol1=dies'ima direc- "tion axiallydf the rolhdiesand having assoelated therewith-a yieldable stop member adapted'initially to-position"thebillet-and to be yieldab'ly deflected during the deforming of' the' billet to the finishedshape.

- Other objectsand-advantages of the present invention will beconieapparentlrom the follow- "ing description-taken'- in--'conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a centraly vertical,--longitudinal sectional view of a machineeIn-bodyingthe features of'the present invention and-adapted for the'roll- *die formation of shapes from cylindrical billets and showing-the roll' 'dies'in position at the cornpletion-Oi' therolling operation;

*Fig. 2 "is an enlarged fragmentary viewsimilar toFigPl and illustrates the-rolls--in the starting position as the billet received Within-the machine;

Fig. '3is across-sectionakview taken on" line 33 of Fig; Land-illustrates the means for driving the roll-dies;

*Figzis a'verticaleross sectiontaken online 4 4 of'F-ig; 1" arfcb'showsthe roll-dies imposition forthe introduction otthe billet;

Fig. 5 is-a perspective view of the roll-dies; and --'Figs.= 6 to 15 are pairs =of= diagrammatic longitudinal and cross-sectional views showing on--a larger scale'success-ive stagesof the reductionof -a-billet.

Generally speaking, the present'invention contemplates providing "a" multiple roll-die anachanism for' the" deforming of cylindrical billets having asp-ec'ial structural arrangement permitting introdridtionofithe billets into positionto be acted" upon in a direction axially of "the -roil dies; the provision of a'special form of roll-die operatinginitially' to deformthe billet to the" desired 'shapey-and finally to roll-finish the product and further tohave incorporated therewith a yieldable stop member-operating initially to "position the bi-llet' and' to permit ofthestop" being yieldably' deflected 'during the operation of deforming of 'the billet tothefinished shape.

In thepreferredembodiment-of the invention as here illustrated; "the improved machine coniprises three rollers or'roll 'dies 2; 4 and'6;mounted on driven shafts 8, *lll and' l2, -j'ournalled--'ina housingfor theroll stand "which 1 is built up 1 of four plates [5, IT, IS and 2!. Each of-theshaf-t-s 8, l and l2 has afiixed thereon a pinion i6 meshing with internal teeth on a gear ring H3. The gear ring :8 is likewise provided with external teeth id positioned in mesh with the teeth of a driving rack bar 28 slidably fitted to reciprocate in horizontal guide-Way grooves 22 and 2d and operable with a stroke sufilcient to turn the rollers 2, t and through one revolution. The driving rack bar 20, as will be understood, may be operated by any suitable means to effect its reciprocation such as by a pneumatic plunger driving means, not shown. The three roll-dies 2, 4 and 5, as employed in the machine of the present invention, are identical and, as best shown in Fig. 5, are formed or shaped as a cylinder 26 with a ridge or forming cam shoulder 28 which extends circumferentially and increases in radius and width around the cylinder or roll. The roll-dies are arranged in such relative angular positions that corresponding parts of the roll-dies will simultaneously engage a billet inserted centrally through a hole 30 in the front or forward supporting plate l5. In the arrangement the three roll-dies are shown as equally spaced circumferentially thereby forming a cage for the reception of the heated billet indicated at 34. Clearance for the reception of the billet is provided by the cut-away or low portions of the metal working shoulders or cams. The roll-dies, as best shown in Fig. 5, are cut away at 32 at their outermost sides, thus providing reentrant portions pro viding clearance for the tongs by which the billet is placed in position to be operated on. The structural provisions for the driving of the rolls likewise provide for central longitudinal clearance through the machine.

In accordance with the invention and contributing to the improved manner of operation there is provided a yieldable stop which is adapted to be engaged by the billet for its proper initial positioning with relation to the roll-dies and which will be yieldable during the deforming operation to accommodate the deforming of the billet. The structural arrangement of the yieldable stop consism of a stop member 32 fitted to a socket in the forward end of a shaft or plunger 33 located within forward and rearward slide bearings 35 and 36 which are supported by a frame bracket 3?. Plunger shaft 33 is normally urged forwardly by means of the coil spring 39 surrounding the shaft and interposed between the bearing 35 and a ring or bushing 48 on the shaft 33, which ring or bushing t8 engages a rearwardly directed shoulder on the forward or socket end of the shaft (Fig. l). The rearward end of the plunger shaft 33 is provided with a threaded extension for the reception of adjust able nuts 38 which act asa stop to determine the initial or forward position of the stop member 32, as will be readily appreciated.

The operation on the billet starts with the rack bar 2d at the right-hand end of its stroke and the roll-dies in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The billet is initially heated until it will flow under pressure and it is then fed into the machine between the roll-dies until it engages the stop 32. The rack bar 26 is then moved by its power source to the left to its position as seen in Fig. 3. The rollers 2, i and 6 are in consequence turned clockwise while the billet is rolled anticlockwise between them. The progressive eifect of the engagement of the forming ridges or cam shoulders 23 with the billet 34 is indicated in Figs. 6 to 15 as producing a shape of dumbbell formation.

The formation of the roll-dies is such that duringthe latter part of the operation, the ridge engaging the billet is of constant radius and as a result advantageously smooths the surface of the reduced part of the billet. During the formation of the billet, the stop 32 yields a short distance to allow for the extension of the reduced part of the billet. During the die formation of the shape, the end portions 43 and 45 increase slightly in diameter and are shaped by the cylindrical surface 26 of the roll-dies. After the rolls have completed a revolution the billet is withdrawn, the forming shoulders 28 being by then clear of the inner head of the shape and the cylindrical part of the rollers being slightly cut away at 48 to permit the billet to be withdrawn freely. Withdrawal is assisted by the spring 39. For subsequent operation, the rack bar 28 is then returned to its initial position.

After the billet has been withdrawn, it may be severed to provide a mushroom-shape piece of metal which is hot pressed to the final shape of a turbine blade. If it is desirable to have the reduced part of the billet of tapered shape, the ridges may have slightly coned outer surfaces as will be readily understood. While the mushroom-shape may be produced by simply cutting in half a dumbbell of appropriate length it may likewise be produced by placing a suitable billet in the machine in such a way that it is left with one head only.

. t is to be observed that the machine embodying the present invention is designed with rolldies for deforming of billets in such a manner as to permit the insertion or introduction of the billets into the machine in a direction axially of the roll-dies. Furthermore, the machine has incorporated therein a yieldable stop member which materially contributes to the successful operation of the machine in the manner described here'm.

Moreover, the roll-dies employed have an effective and improved formation capable of operating progressively to deform the billet to the desired shape, capable of permitting the introduction and withdrawal of the billet or shape axially of the rolls in the finishing of the shape, and also capable of operating on the work in a manner providing an advantageous rolled surface finish.

In the multiple roll-die machine embodying the features of the present invention, three roll-dies are preferably employed and are equally spaced around a central cage space. The cam surface or forming shoulder proper extends through about 270 on each of the roll-dies and thereafter merges with a plane cylindrical surface so that during the last part of the rotation of about the shape is rolled between three such cylindrical surfaces so as to give a good surface finish. The axial edges of the forming cams or shoulders may, as shown, be sloped off so as to exert a wedging action on the billet and so as to assist the axial extension which accompanies the reduction in diameter.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine adapted for forming a dumbbell shape from a cylindrical billet comprising at least three roll-dies suitably journalled, means operating to rotate the roll-dies in synchronism comprising pinions on the roll-dies, a ring gear meshing internally with the pinions and a rack meshing externally with the ring gear, the rolldies each being formed with portions of reduced diameter adapted jointly to provide a cage space for the reception of a billet introduced axially of the roll-dies, a yieldable stop positioned to be engaged by a billet and comprising a stop element supported by a plunger shaft slidably supported to extend through the ring gear and having a rearward threaded extension, adjusting nuts on the extension to determine the stop forward position and a spring surrounding the plunger shaft and operative normally to retain the stop in forward position and to be yieldable to accommodate for deformation of the billet, and deforming shoulders on the roll-dies extending partially around the circumference and merging with substantially concentric portions effective to roll-finish the deformed billet.

2. A machine adapted for forming a dumbbell shape from a cylindrical billet comprising at least three roll-dies suitably journalled, means operating to rotate the roll-dies in synchronism comprising pinions on the roll-dies, a ring gear meshing internally with the pinions and a rack meshing externally with the ring gear, the rollo'ies each being formed with portions of reduced diameter adapted jointly to provide a cage space for the reception of a billet introduced axially of the roll-dies, a yieldable stop positioned to be engaged by the billet and comprising a stop element supported by a plunger shaft slidably supported to extend through thhe ring gear and having a rearward threaded extension, adjusting nuts on the extension to determine the stop forward position and a spring surrounding the plunger shaft and operative normally to retain the stop in forward position and to be yieldable to accommodate for deformation of the billet, and deforming shoulders on the roll-dies extending partially around the circumference and merging with substantially concentric portions effective to roll-finish the deformed billet, the inner end of each roll-die formed with a cylindrical part with which the adjacent end of the billet makes contact during the reduction of the central or outer part of the billet.

3. A machine for forming a dumbbell shape from a cylindrical billet, said machine consisting essentially of a housing having a large opening in the forward portion thereof to form a billetentry port; at least three substantially parallel and cylindrical roll-dies journalled in the said forward portion of the housing and positioned on the same side thereof and grouped around said billet-entry port in the housing; means operative to rotate the roll-dies in synchronism through 369 degrees; the cylindrical roll-dies each being formed with portions of reduced diameter constituting elongated depressions extending along the roll-dies; said roll-dies so disposed with respect to the housing and to each other, with the portions of reduced diameter facing each other in the idle position of the roll-dies, as to form an open cage for receiving and loosely holding a heated billet entered through the entry port in said housing in the direction axially of the rolldies with the outer end of the billet floating free; an axially-movable stop member supported in the housing and positioned to engage the inner endof the billet to determine the initial axial po-- sition of the billet within the. said open cage, adjustable means engaging the stop member to determine the forward position of the stop member, and yieldable means engaging the stop member to bias the stop toward its forward position and yieldable to accommodate the stop to the axial extension-movement of the contiguous end of the. billet during the rolling operation at least a portion of the surface of each'of said roll-dies constructed and arranged to forma die-surface extending partially around the circumference of the roll-die, the initial portion of each said die-surface increasing progressively in radius and width and merging with a terminal portion of the diesurface of constant radius effective to roll-finish the deformed billet; said roll-dies so relatively angularly positioned that when the roll-dies are turned in the same direction the corresponding portions of said die-surfaces will simultaneously engage the billet and roll it to the desired diameter and contour in one revolution of the roll-dies; said roll-dies being cut away at their sides adjacent the billet entry port in the housing, said cut-away portions being aligned with said portions of reduced diameter but constituting larger depressions, said cut-away portions and said entry port in the housing cooperating to provide clearance for tongs holding the end of the free-floating billet while said billet is being placed in position to be operated on and while said deformed billet is being withdrawn through the outer end of the said cage, said billet entry port in the housing being devoid of bearing mountings and the like tending to interfere with the free floating and easy insertion of the billet.

l. A machine adapted for forming a part of reduced diameter on a cylindrical billet, said machine consisting essentially of a housing having a large opening in the forward portion thereof to form a billet-entry port; at least three substantially parallel and cylindrical roll-dies journalled in said housing and positioned on the same side of the said forward portion of the housing and grouped around said billet-entry port in the housing; means operative to rotate the roll-dies in synchronism through 360 degrees; the cylindrical roll-dies each being formed with portions of reduced diameter constituting elongated depressions extending along the roll-dies; said roll-dies so disposed with respect to the housing and to each other, with the portions of reduced diameter facing each other in the idle position of the roll-dies, as to form an open cage for receiving and loosely holding a heated billet entered through the entry port in said housing in the direction axially of the roll-dies with the outer end of the billet floating free; an axially-resilient stop member supported in the housing and positioned to engage the inner end of the billet to determine the initial axial position of the billet within the said open cage and constructed and arranged to yield upon longitudinal extension of the billet during the rolling operation; a deforming shoulder on the periphery of each of said roll-dies and extending partially around the cir cumference of the roll-die, said deforming shoulders on the roll-dies so shaped and so arranged with respect to each other that when the rolldies are turned in the same direction the corresponding portions of the said deforming shoulders will simultaneously engage the billet and roll it to the desired diameter and contour in one revolution of the roll-dies; each of said roll-dies having a re-entrant outer portion at the ends of the roll-dies adjacent the billet entry port, said re-entrant portions being aligned with said depressions in the roll-dies but constituting larger depressions, said re-entrant portions of the rolldies and said billet entry port in the housing 00- operating to provide clearance for tongs holding the end of the free-floating billet while said billet is being placed in position to be operated on and while the deformed billet is being withdrawn axially through the outer end of said cage, said billet entry port in the housing being devoid of bearing mountings and the like tending to interfere with the free floating and easy insertion of the billet.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Threthewey Jan. 22, 1878 Tebbetts Jan. 3, 1888 Schneider June 25, 1901 Hill Jan. 8, 1935 Brown Feb. 29, 1944 Buckwalter Nov. 6, 1945 

